Autoweek reported Novo Nordisk is looking at opportunities with other teams next year, and Max and TK are pretty far gone already. Rosenqvist would be a really solid addition but I've heard there may be difficulties there with his FE contract so who knows. From what I can tell Rossi is Honda no matter what and he may not necessarily stick with Andretti even if AA do indeed stay with Honda, so Rossi is probably the best play for CGR right now. The Sato deal being up in the air is odd too, I guess CGR could always nab him as well.
True, but Carlos has generally been stronger this year. But, and this is just some unsubstantiated stuff I've read online, ABC Supply supposedly have a favorable opinion of Conor. They seem to be very invested in IndyCar but I wonder how long they continue to support two cars. Carlos may have to bring something next year and the inability to do that was basically why he was left out at Andretti.
There are so many rumors flying around the Acura DPi program that I really don't know what to think about Helio anymore. Think of the Porsche (and probably Toyota) LMP1 drivers who will be looking for at least additional work next year, in addition to guys already in the running like Ricky Taylor and Jenson Button, and it seems less and less likely that Helio will take one of those two seats. I do think he really wants to stay in IndyCar, but I'm not sure Roger wants to make that a reality. Could the improbable happen, and Helio leaves for CGR? It'd be wild but I don't think it can be ruled out right now.
LMAO at Michael Andretti whining that it's "unfair" for Sato to negotiate a new deal with another team. I guess it is fair for the team to negotiate with others, but unfair for the driver to do that??? Ha. And I guess it will also be unfair if Rossi signs with another under the same circumstances.
I'd be surprised if TG has any actual responsibilities anymore, even after being reinstated to the board. I think it's mainly just Miles and Frye at this point.
Indycar has a long way to go to produce good racing at most venues. Winners and losers determined by when you pit in relation to caution flags is not good racing, IMO. I'm really bummed to read predictions that downforce will be about 15% lower next year... should be 60-75% lower IMO.
Cautions affecting the outcome of a race is more of an American problem than anything else. Unless the line of thinking changes dramatically it'll also be a possibility here, although for all of the complaining from the teams about it it's happened maybe three times? It's not ideal but no one in any series here seems to want to adopt international protocol.
My post was poorly worded. What I meant to complain about is that nothing *else* seems to ever happen to change the running order, once the race starts, except leap frogging due to pit stop toming. In other words, no passing at most venues, just follow the leader. And I shouldn't say there is no passing, but ceryainly it is rare. A faster car should be able to get by a slower one, given a period of laps to work on it.
Well I would say there are several factors - one of which Doc already alluded to. The aero kits made it harder to pass, for sure. Not only that but you also wound up with certain tracks that favored Honda and certain tracks that favored Chevy, so that reduces passing. And then road courses and street circuits are naturally going to be harder to pass on regardless of what kind of series is competing. But despite all that there is still a ton more action than there is in F1...I don't have any numbers in front of me but think even the IndyCar races with the least passing probably have more overtakes than the F1 races with the most.
I hope you're right, Indy Car does mostly everything right and could rival NASCAR again if things break their way.